Is your Mac running out of space faster than you can say “Time Machine”? You snap photos, edit videos, and download apps, and suddenly, that little storage bar turns bright red. It’s frustrating when you can’t save your latest project! Many Mac users face this exact problem. Choosing the right Network Attached Storage (NAS) seems complicated. You worry about speed, compatibility with macOS, and whether it will be easy to set up. It feels like you need a computer science degree just to buy a hard drive!
But don’t worry! This guide cuts through the confusion. We will show you exactly how a NAS can become your Mac’s best friend, offering massive, fast storage you can access anywhere. By the end of this post, you will understand the best features to look for, how to connect it smoothly, and which models work perfectly with your Apple ecosystem. Ready to unlock limitless storage for your Mac? Let’s dive in and find your perfect NAS solution.
Top Nas Storage For Mac Recommendations
Bestseller No. 1
UGREEN NAS DH2300 2-Bay Desktop NASync, Support Capacity 60TB (Diskless), Remote Access, AI Photo Album, Beginner Friendly System, 4GB on Board RAM,1GbE, 4K HDMI, Network Attached Storage(Diskless)
- Entry-level NAS Personal Storage：UGREEN NAS DH2300 is your first and best NAS made easy. It is designed for beginners who want a simple, private way to store videos, photos and personal files, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage or external drives and move away from scattered date across devices. This entry-level NAS 2-bay perfect for personal entertainment, photo storage, and easy data backup (doesn't support Docker or virtual machines).
- Set Your Devices Free, Expand Your Digital World: This unified storage hub supports massive capacity up to 60TB.*Storage drives not included. Stop Deleting, Start Storing. You can store 20 million 3MB images, or 2 million 30MB songs, or 40K 1.5GB movies or 62 million 1MB documents! UGREEN NAS is a better way to free up storage across all your devices such as phones, computers, tablets and also does automatic backups across devices regardless of the operating system—Window, iOS, Android or macOS.
- The Smarter Long-term Way to Store: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, a UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $459.98 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $3,599.40 for 5 years. You will save $6,738.82 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH2300 + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Blazing Speed, Minimal Power: Equipped with a high-performance processor, 1GbE port, and 4GB LPDDR4X RAM, this NAS handles multiple tasks with ease. File transfers reach up to 125MB/s—a 1GB file takes only 8 seconds. Don't let slow clouds hold you back; they often need over 100 seconds for the same task. The difference is clear.
- Let AI Better Organize Your Memories: UGREEN NAS uses AI to tag faces, locations, texts, and objects—so you can effortlessly find any photo by searching for who or what's in it in seconds. It also automatically finds and deletes similar or duplicate photo, backs up live photos and allows you to share them with your friends or family with just one tap. Everything stays effortlessly organized, powered by intelligent tagging and recognition.
Bestseller No. 2
BUFFALO LinkStation 210 4TB 1-Bay NAS Network Attached Storage with HDD Hard Drives Included NAS Storage That Works as Home Cloud or Network Storage Device for Home
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
Bestseller No. 3
UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus 4-Bay Desktop NASync, Support Capacity 120TB, Remote Access, AI Photo Album, Beginner Friendly System, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 2.5GbE, 4K HDMI, Network Attached Storage(Diskless)
- Entry-level NAS Home Storage: The UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus is an entry-level 4-bay NAS that's ideal for home media and vast private storage you can access from anywhere and also supports Docker but not virtual machines. You can record, store, share happy moment with your families and friends, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage, or external drives to create your own private cloud, access files from any device.
- 120TB Massive Capacity Embraces Your Overwhelming Data: The NAS offers enough room for your digital life, no more deleting, just preserving. You can store 41.2 million pictures, or 4 million songs, or 80.6K movies or 125.6 million files! It also does automatic backups and connects to multiple devices regardless of the OS, IOS, Android and OSX. *Storage disks not included.
- User-Friendly App & Easy to Use: Connect quickly via NFC, set up simply and share files fast on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and smart TVs. You can access data remotely from any of your mixed devices. What's more, UGREEN NAS enclosure comes with beginner-friendly user manual and video instructions to ensure you can easily take full advantage of its features.
- AI Album Recognition & Classification: The 4 bay nas supports real-time photo backups and intelligent album management including semantic search, custom learning, recognition of people, object, pet, similar photo. Thus, you can classify and find your photos easily. What's more, it can also remove duplicate photos as desired.
- More Cost-effective Storage Solution: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, A UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $629.99 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $1,439.76 for 2 years, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $7,198.80 for 10 years. You will save $6,568.81 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH4300 Plus + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
Bestseller No. 4
BUFFALO LinkStation 710 8TB 1-Bay NAS Network Attached Storage with HDD Hard Drives Included NAS Storage That Works as Home Cloud or Network Storage Device for Home
- Get enhanced features, cloud capabilities, MacOS 26 compatibility, and up to 7x faster performance than LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for all your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and MacOS 26, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS700 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
Bestseller No. 5
BUFFALO LinkStation 210 2TB 1-Bay NAS Network Attached Storage with HDD Hard Drives Included NAS Storage That Works as Home Cloud or Network Storage Device for Home
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
Bestseller No. 6
Synology 2-Bay DiskStation DS223j (Diskless)
- Secure private cloud - Enjoy 100% data ownership and multi-platform access from anywhere
- Easy sharing and syncing - Safely access and share files and media from anywhere, and keep clients, colleagues and collaborators on the same page
- Comprehensive data protection - Back up your media library or document repository to a variety of destinations
- 2-year warranty
- Check Synology knowledge center or YouTube channel for help on product setup and additional information
Bestseller No. 7
UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay Desktop All-Round NASync Ideal for Small Team, Enthusiasts, Intel N100 Quad-core CPU, 8GB DDR5 RAM, 2.5GbE, 2X M.2 NVMe Slots, 4K HDMI, Network Attached Storage (Diskless)
- All-Round NAS: DXP2800 is ideal for enthusiasts, small Teams, & More. You will get pro specs and advanced features from accessible and user-friendly storage. It is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage or external drives and helps you to create an intuitive and secure platform to centralize, organize, and securely share your data. Just move away from data scattered across devices.
- Spend Less, Store More: Unlike costly cloud storage subscriptions, NAS only requires a one-time purchase with no ongoing fees, offering much better long-term value. Storing your data locally also provides far greater data security and gives you complete control. All-Round NAS is ideal for small team, & more.
- Massive Storage Capacity: Store up to 76TB, giving you more than enough space to back up all your files, photos, and videos. Automatically create photo albums and enjoy your personal home cinema.
- User-Friendly App: Simple setup and easy file-sharing on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and smart TVs, giving you secure access from any device.
- AI-Powered Photo Album: Automatically organizes your photos by recognizing faces, scenes, objects, and locations. It can also instantly remove duplicates, freeing up storage space and saving you time.
Bestseller No. 8
Western Digital 6TB Elements Desktop USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - WDBWLG0060HBK-NESN
- High-capacity add-on storage.Specific uses: Business, personal
- Fast data transfers
- Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs
- WD quality inside and out
Choosing the Right NAS Storage for Your Mac: A Simple Buying Guide
When you use a Mac, you often need a safe place to keep all your photos, videos, and important files. A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is like your own private cloud drive at home. This guide helps you pick the best one for your Apple setup.
1. Key Features to Look For
Good NAS drives offer features that make using them easy and secure. Think about these when shopping:
- Drive Bays: This is how many hard drives you can fit inside. More bays (like 2-bay, 4-bay, or 5-bay) mean more space and better backup options.
- Speed (Ethernet Ports): Look for Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) at a minimum. If you move huge video files often, consider 2.5GbE or 10GbE for faster transfers.
- RAID Support: RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) protects your data. RAID 1 mirrors data across two drives, so if one fails, you don’t lose anything. RAID 5 uses three or more drives for speed and protection.
- Mac Software Compatibility: Ensure the NAS works smoothly with macOS features like Time Machine backups.
2. Important Materials and Build Quality
The physical parts of the NAS matter for how long it lasts and how loud it is.
- Enclosure: Most NAS cases use sturdy plastic or metal (aluminum). Metal cases often help keep the hard drives cooler.
- Drives Included vs. Empty Shell: Some NAS units come with hard drives already installed (pre-loaded). Others are empty shells, letting you choose your own drives, which can save money or let you pick quiet, NAS-specific drives.
- Cooling Fans: A good NAS needs quiet, effective fans. Loud fans can annoy you if the NAS lives in your living room or office.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes a NAS great or frustrating?
- Ease of Setup: A high-quality NAS has simple setup software. If the setup process is confusing, the quality feels low, even if the hardware is good.
- Processor (CPU) and RAM: Better internal components mean the NAS can handle multiple tasks at once, like streaming movies while backing up a computer. This boosts overall quality of use.
- Security Features: Strong encryption and easy-to-use access controls improve security, which is a major quality factor for any storage device.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
How you plan to use the NAS changes what you should buy.
- Time Machine Backup: If you just want an automatic backup for your Mac, a simple 2-bay NAS with RAID 1 works perfectly.
- Media Streaming (Plex): If you want to stream movies to Apple TVs or other devices, you need a NAS with a stronger processor that can “transcode” (change video files) on the fly.
- Remote Access: If you want to access your files when you are away from home, make sure the brand offers a reliable app or service for secure remote connection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Mac NAS Storage
Q: Do I need special hard drives for a NAS?
A: Yes, it is best to use drives made for NAS use (often labeled WD Red or Seagate IronWolf). These drives are built to run 24/7 and handle the vibration of multiple drives running together.
Q: Can I use my old external Mac hard drive inside a NAS?
A: Sometimes, but it is not recommended. NAS drives are designed for constant use. Old desktop drives might fail sooner in this environment.
Q: Is NAS storage faster than using an external USB drive plugged directly into my Mac?
A: Not always for a single computer. However, NAS storage is faster for *multiple* people or devices accessing files at the same time over your network.
Q: What is the difference between NAS and iCloud?
A: iCloud is a public cloud service run by Apple. NAS is your private storage device kept in your house. You control the NAS completely.
Q: Is setting up RAID complicated for a beginner?
A: Modern NAS systems make it very easy. You usually click a few buttons during setup, and the software handles the complex background work of setting up RAID 1 or RAID 5.
Q: Do I need to buy the hard drives separately?
A: Many brands sell two versions: one empty (no drives) and one pre-filled (with drives). Buying empty saves money if you already own compatible drives.
Q: How does a NAS help with Mac Time Machine?
A: The NAS appears on your network just like an external drive. Your Mac automatically finds it and uses it as a destination for Time Machine backups, keeping your data safe wirelessly.
Q: Will a NAS slow down my home internet speed?
A: A NAS slows down your *local network* speed when transferring big files, but it does not affect your internet speed (the speed you download from the web) unless you are accessing it remotely.
Q: What is the best way to connect the NAS to my router?
A: Always connect the NAS directly to your main router using a good quality Ethernet cable (Cat5e or Cat6) for the fastest and most reliable connection.
Q: How long do NAS hard drives usually last?
A: NAS-rated drives are often rated for three to five years of continuous use, but they can last much longer, especially when protected by a RAID setup.